Tag: strigoi

The world picked up her skirts, shook her hair and went into a spin. She took me from Paris and laid me upon the emerald isle’s shores.

HELLO FROM IRELAND.🍀

I hope you are healthy and safe wherever you are in the world.

This is the story about how in a matter of 24 hours I went from one future to another, from the heart of Paris to the countryside of Ireland.

It was March 13th. I was strolling down the streets of Paris bathing in the sunset light and greeting the budding cherry trees in the Jardin the Tuilleries. I needed to get out of the house. The weight of the world was weighing on my heart. My limbs exhausted. My producer and I had just returned from a grueling filming trip to Romania for my Strigoi film.

We were supposed to fly from Romania to Italy and then to New Orleans to interview two key people for my movie but I cancelled our Italy trip the evening before we were set to fly and we returned to Paris instead. I’ve walked in many a cemetery at night, interviewed some dicey characters and put myself through a lot of physical and psychological challenges for my film but this covid situation felt bigger than what I wanted to tackle. Getting all the footage I needed to finish the film felt so close I could almost taste it. And yet …

Let me get back to the evening of March 13th. At around 10pm at night, I get a call from California. My friend Jonathan says I should really think about getting out of Paris because things are about to get serious. He says I should go to their house in rural Ireland. That I’ll be safe there while the world goes mad. It felt like a crazy idea at first but then, I felt a tiny flutter of joy in my heart. I decided to follow that flutter. I packed a bag and 24 hours later, I was in Dublin.The next morning, Paris went on lockdown.

It’s hard to believe I’ve been here for 2 months.I’ve had a lot of alone time,a lot of conversations with the crows outside my window I planted a gardenwrote songsI laughed and cried and held myself closeand most of all, I felt what it’s like to be cared for by someone from afar who thinks to call and say, “Get out of there, we have a safe place for you.”That was the flutter I felt.That’s the joy I followed.

Ballyrane House was built in late 1800s.My friends Jonathan & Tiffany bought it with the idea of moving here AND to share it with people as a vacation and events rental. They’ve been the perfect hosts from afar! I’m so happy to be here. It’s paradise. I know the house will host many happy moments. I am so lucky to be part of her joyful legacy. (The house loves it when I pick flowers for her. I’ve been posting photos on my Instagram feed. (here)Follow Ballyrane House on insta @ballyranehousewexford and Tiffany at @rosecrest_events. She is an absolute inspiration!

Strigoi film is on hold. My editor went to be with her family in Belgium. We will still work on it together from a distance (I’m not eager to return to Paris) but the finish date is getting pushed to the fall. It’s a heavy burden to push this movie across the finish line but we will do it. I wish I had those two interviews from Italy and Nola! We may do them online or wait until the world opens up.Did you see my latest Strigoi video update? (Watch here)You can follow @strigoifilm on Insta for regular updates.

I’ll end here for now.Life goes onHearts openWe press onLove is the greatest.

Write back if you can and tell me how you are,

Ingrid

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Dear friends, it’s actually happening! I will be singing for you in two days. It’s almost surreal but it also feels like the most natural thing in the world.I feel ready. I’ve been rehearsing a lot.I’ve tried to bring as much beauty and be as truthful in writing these songs as I can muster.

Seems that writing and performing are two different things, kind of like acting and directing. I’ve been reading this amazing book on Mysticism in Sound and Music. It’s quietly revolutionary. It speaks right to my heart and validates the thoughts I’ve had on music, harmony and dissonance. Light and darkness … So much!I don’t want to get too much into it here because you should read it for yourself. The idea that all is vibration, that everything is music and that music is divine language is something that has governed my life for a while. I could talk about this for-ever!

I feel incredibly lucky and blessed to be able to put my heart into movies and songs and share them with you. I can’t even tell you how honored I feel by each of you who’s bought a ticket for the show on Sunday. I am truly grateful and I hope that you will be enriched for having shared that experience with me.

The show sold out twice today which made me feel all the love, so I have released more tickets.

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To see 2018, I look into the mirror.
What’s left of what I started with?
Did I learn? Did I grow?
Are the changes within showing on my face?

This year dunked me under water so many times I thought I would never come back up to the surface.
Although it has felt like an attempt on my life, 2018 exercised its full power to dislodge me from most everything I called safe. Home, city, relationship … I am grateful for the saints along the way.

Was it Leonard Cohen who said that light gets in through the cracks? And so it seems that a little bit did.
When I look, really look into the mirror, I see it glimmer in my eyes, like that eternal serpent of awakening.

Mirrors don’t judge.

Here I am.And there you are.Thank us all.

Michelangelo said that he merely removes the superfluous pieces of stone to reveal the statue within. 2018 shaped me into more of me, tender skin with a lion’s heart. I wrote that in a song. I’ve been writing songs but they feel so personal, I don’t know when I’ll gather the courage to share them.

This is one of my photos of the Gilets Jaunes demonstrations in Paris.I posted a longer account with more photos and videos on my INSTAGRAM page.

2019 Goals …

1. Finish “Strigoi.”2. Make another doc.3. Continue to write my fiction project and film as much of it as possible.3. Write more songs and maybe share them.4. Keep meditating and writing in my journal.5. Spend time with the people I love.6. Eat croissants, go to museums and spend time in nature.7. Be here.

Love Spell for 2019

For 2019.I love you even before I know you.For my friends.You are so much more than my heart once wished for. Saints.For all of us.May we be our true selves to such an extent that the symphony of our co-existence resonates fully into the here and now and the always.

If you’d like to support the post production of Strigoi, let me know. One option is to make a tax-deductible donation through my fiscal sponsor, SFFILM (only available until March 2019), another way is to send your donations directly to me via Paypal. You will be credited on screen, of course, and I am happy to extend the Kickstarter rewards if you’re interested.

I’m moving towards being able to share some footage with you soon. I’m editing it myself so it’s a little daunting. Encouragements much appreciated.

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I’m writing to you from the other side of the time divide. It’s already 2018 in Romania. It’s all good. 🙂
The new year is bringing a feeling of renewal, brightness and courage. At least those were the thoughts crossing my mind while I was watching the neighbors shoot fireworks into the sky. (Fireworks are not illegal here.) The loud sounds and bright lights of the fireworks are supposed to chase away the darkness and evil and open the way for the new and bright, right? I think they did it.

2017 has been a whirlwind; a magical carpet ride. 2018 shows no signs of stopping. If anything, it looks likes it’s gearing up for more and more. I am grateful. Sure, it’s all coming in at once but I’ll take it.

At the end of 2016, I had no idea I was going to direct 2 feature documentaries in 2017. I don’t recommend it that but like said, the attitude I’ve been cultivating is “bring it!” I have traveled to Minnesota, several times to Egypt, Romania, Switzerland, France and quick trips to Italy, Spain and Portugal. Just in the last few weeks I’ve been in So Cal, Louisville, Nebraska, NYC … I was home in the Bay Area for a total of maybe 6 weeks this year. We have a few more days here in Romania, just enough to get over some nasty colds and then back to Paris.

Mid January, Forest is heading to our home in the bay to begin working on the music for the Egypt documentary. I will stay in Paris to continue working with my editor through the end of February. I will dash over to Chicago end of January just for a couple of days to play a show with Forest and Mike Mullins, our mandolin/guitar player. Then, after a quick stop in Ohio, I’m heading back to Paris and Forest back to the bay.

This is the first time Forest and I are spending so much time apart. I expect it will be somewhat strange and lonely but we’re ready to tackle this new chapter of life and use our talents to continue to create together. And there’s always Facetime, right?

I keep coming back to the gravitational pull of the truth that I love my work. As much as 2017 has been magical and amazing and beautiful, I have met with some of the biggest challenges and like on the hero’s journey, I fought fearful monsters who threatened to destroy me. I am here, I made it through, monsters somewhat quiet. I can’t declare victory yet but I have gotten to know these creatures well. They are no longer strangers. Who knows, maybe someday we’ll be friends.

2018 is setting up to be the most fearful and marvelous one to date. If you’re in the skill and habit of sending bolstering energies, please do.

For you, I am grateful. Thank you for lending me your ear and your care.
A friend of time sent me the perfect wish: Time. Time to do work on I want to accomplish. I extend that wish to you and anything else you might desire.

I took this photo of myself next to my grandma and grandpa’s graves. I recorded one of my video updates for the Strigoi film there. If you’d like to watch the updates, go HERE.

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I am writing you from my cousin’s house in Georgia. We arrived in the USA 3 days ago, a little tattered, me with an ear infection and Forest exhausted from the 10-day trip all over Romania right before we got on the plane. Driving over there is a real battle, especially when the car brakes down in the middle of your journey. It was crazy!

As I look back on Romania, my heart is filled with gratitude for all that it had to hold. We had incredible experiences, frustrating times and difficult journeys. Looking into the vampire/strigoi stories was much like pulling the curtain and peering into the darkness of our human souls. I am not only referring to the belief in “evil” but also to our capacity to exclude and demonize others for simply being different.
At times, we may need supernatural language to interpret someone’s cruel and unusual actions. Lots of thoughts …

From my investigations and filming, it’s difficult to conclude on whether there are such things as supernatural creatures and powers. There’s enough evidence to prove both sides. I look forward to editing the film and sharing it with you.

On to new adventures … a new movie!

As we were wrapping up filming our vampire/strigoi film in Romania, a dear friend of ours recommended us for an unusual project. A Swiss entrepreneur wants to take six American families on a free vacation to Egypt. He has no political affiliation or religious agenda. He simply wants to offer this trip to people who are concerned about our country’s and the world’s safety when it comes to Muslims and show them the Egyptian culture. There’s a saying: “If we can have a war of words then we can avoid a real war.”

Where do I fit in? I was asked to be the director of the film. Can you believe it? Me, lil’ ol’ me. Forest is producing.
As a filmmaker I am thrilled to be directing another feature film!
As a human, my heart is eager to contribute towards acts of kindness and understanding.

We’re in the process of casting right now so if you know someone who’d like to come on the trip, let me know. I would love to get someone from Chicago.

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One of the Romanian customs says that you can and should wish everyone a happy new year during the month of January. Today is the last day. Happy New Year!

I know it’s been a tumultuous end of the year and an even more divisive new year. I still hold true that stories bind us together and remind us of our own common ground and humanity.

With Forest helping, I’ve been working on the big film, the vampire documentary. Three weeks left in Romania. I find myself flirting with the feeling of panic. Did I do a good enough job so far? Will I finish capturing everything that this film needs? Is it even going to make sense?
This feeling is ever available during the creative process. I try to see it as a friend and an opportunity to trust and move forward.

Part of the reason for my making a different short film for every month of this year is to repeatedly face all of feelings of the creative process and linger not in their embraces.

Movement is key.

Can you believe I did it? The challenge is completed. 12 short films in a year! Done! That feels good.

Start thinking about your favorite 4 films that I made this year. I’ll polish them and then … we can submit them to festivals and beyond!

Last thing I’m going to say before I part the curtains and show you this month’s strigoi short film (my first of the suspense genre) is that the title of the film, this new Chinese year of the rooster and my starting this challenge right after last Chinese year is a coincidence. Or is it?

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I love September 15th. It used to be the first day of school in Romania; the smell of new books, the routine, friends and the feeling of the unknown waiting for me to discover it.
Since I’ve been out of school, I’ve wanted to do something momentous on September 15th. Here I am, doing it. Finally!

With lots of preparation and hard work, I have launched a Kickstarter campaign for my first feature film. The tag line is …

With nothing but a camera and the belief that she will go unharmed, a filmmaker returns to her roots in search of real vampires.

The video I made for the Kickstarter campaign will be my monthly film for September. (I have a mind to make another film this month if I get the chance. So much to do. I have to get ready to speak on a panel at Tallgrass Film Festival next month, I’m helping Forest with his radio campaign for his new album release and I have to still find someone to sublet our place while we’re gone. Oh, and also drawing a vampire goat.)